Records raise questions about councilman-elect

Records raise questions about Councilman-elect Hoang

MIKE SNYDER, Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle

Published 6:30 am, Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Houston City Councilman-elect Al Hoang and his wife claimed homestead exemptions on two separate homes, according to public records that also raise questions about whether Hoang meets the city's residency requirements.

Married couples in Texas may claim only one homestead exemption. The Houston Chronicle could find no legal record of a divorce in Harris or Brazoria counties, where the two homestead exemptions are registered. Hoang's campaign Web site mentions his wife and family and includes photos of the couple at campaign-related events.

In addition, Hoang's campaign finance reports filed prior to the Nov. 3 election and Dec. 12 runoff fail to include certain required elements, including the dates of donations and the occupations of donors who gave more than $500 in a reporting period. The omissions are so numerous that it is impossible to determine whether donations were reported multiple times or exceeded legal limits.

Hoang, 47, a criminal defense lawyer, easily defeated Mike Laster in a runoff for District F in southwest Houston. He is to be sworn in Jan. 4.

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Hoang refused to answer questions about his residency or the homestead exemptions. Regarding his campaign finance reports, Hoang questioned whether some of the missing elements were required, although the city's code of ordinances states that they are.

A city ordinance requires candidates for district council positions to live in the district for a year prior to the election. When he filed for office Aug. 18, Hoang listed his address as 4403 Bugle, in District F, and signed a notarized statement saying he had lived in the district for 13 months.

Harris County Appraisal District records show that Hoang purchased the home on March 3. Voter registration records show he was registered at an address in District G until September, and his registration at the Bugle address took effect Oct. 16 — less than three weeks before the election.

Hoang claims a homestead exemption for the house on Bugle, records show. Hoang's wife, Hang Nguyen, also claims a homestead exemption on a house listed in her name in Pearland, according to Brazoria County Appraisal District records. Hoang and his wife owned the home jointly until March 5, 2008, when he transferred the deed to her, the records show.

District to review records

Jim Robinson, chief appraiser at the Harris County Appraisal District, said his office would review the records of Hoang's and his wife's homestead exemptions.

Robinson said that when his office finds an unwarranted exemption has been claimed, it demands repayment with interest and refers the information to the district attorney's office, which decides whether prosecution is warranted.

Terese Buess, chief of the Harris County district attorney's public integrity division, declined to comment about Hoang. She said her office, which has investigated public officials' residency questions in the past, does not confirm or deny the existence of any investigation until charges or an indictment is filed.

Hoang, who has owned numerous Houston-area businesses in recent years, listed the Pearland address on Harris County business records as recently as 2008. He also lists it as his 2009 mailing address for land he owns in Galveston County, records show.

Spaces left blank

Hoang filed four campaign reports listing contributions and expenditures between October and December. The reports failed to include the dates of donations or the occupations of donors who gave more than $500 in a single reporting period, both of which are required by city ordinance. On each report, a space listing the time period covered was left blank.

Several other candidates for mayor, council and controller omitted some required information on their campaign finance reports prior to the city election. When the Chronicle pointed out these errors, the campaigns filed amended reports and in some cases returned donations.

Hoang, however, insisted that his reports included the required information about the time period covered. He said he did not believe dates of individual donations or donors' occupations were required.

The Texas Ethics Commission is empowered to investigate violations of campaign finance laws and impose civil penalties. The commission investigates only in response to complaints and legally is prohibited from revealing a complaint unless penalties are assessed, said Tim Sorrells, deputy general counsel.

Rodney Brown, listed on Hoang's campaign finance reports as his campaign treasurer, did not return a call seeking comment Wednesday.

Laster declined to comment about his runoff opponent.

Hoang, a Republican, is a Vietnamese immigrant who previously ran for an at-large city council seat and a state district judgeship.